The floods in Pakistan, undoubtedly unprecedented, have exposed the chinks in the so-called ‘steel frame' of the state.

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. That politics is a tightrope walk and there can be no one-size-fits-all solution to a crisis was the lesson for Pakistan's politicians as they struggled to deal with the flood situation facing the country over the past fortnight.

If President Asif Ali Zardari came in for stinging criticism for jetting to France and the United Kingdom as millions were being rendered homeless by unprecedented rainfall and consequent flooding back home, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif's overdrive in reaching out to the masses in his province drew flak for distracting relief workers and slowing down the pace of rescue operations.

Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani sought to match Mr. Sharif in visiting the flood-hit areas — including a medical camp at Mianwali in the northwest of Punjab “for his eyes only.” But that Mr. Zardari's visit was ill-timed is a view shared by even the international community present in considerable strength in Islamabad, thanks to the global war on terror.

Even before he set out on his tour, Mr. Zardari was under immense pressure to call off the U.K. leg in view of British Prime Minister David Cameron's “Pakistan-is-exporting-terrorism” comment in India. Mr. Zardari, however, dug his heels in and all the President's men touted the merits of diplomacy over a kneejerk reaction to the charges levelled against Pakistan.

While there was some merit in that contention, the magnitude of the floods did provide him an opportunity to call off the U.K. tour without triggering a diplomatic row. The fact that he did not grab the opportunity but jetted off to his sprawling chateau in northern France before landing at the Heathrow Airport — dressed casually in jeans and jacket with family in tow — rubbed salt into the wounds.

The News — The Jang group's English newspaper — had a telling front page last week. On the top fold was a photograph of a French Air Force helicopter preparing to drop Mr. Zardari off over his property — Manoir de la Reine Blanche (the Manor of the White Queen) — and the bottom fold had an advertisement, of Mr. Sharif offering his shoulder to a frail bare-chested man in grief, placed by the Punjab government.

Not that Mr. Zardari could have done much by being present in Pakistan — something that was evident from the criticism Mr. Sharif drew for his efforts — but symbolism counts for something in politics. As if this were not bad enough, the Prime Minister has now said parliamentary delegations will be sent abroad to convince the international donor community to loosen its purse strings. Given that the floods have got extensive coverage in the international media — — questions are being asked what purpose such “junkets” will serve apart from eating into the country's foreign exchange reserves.

It has been acknowledged that aid has been slow in coming from not just the government but also the United Nations. This is in sharp contrast to 2005, when there was a huge earthquake, and even last year when aid was collected for the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) of the military operations against terror groups.

Criticising the Prime Minister's announcement, The Dawn newspaper, in its editorial, said on Wednesday: “There is no doubt we need aid that matches the extent of devastation. But higher aid commitments will not flow from the politicians' begging missions…, we should convince the world that we are doing all we can to help ourselves and that donor agencies should have trust in our ability to utilize the aid effectively and promptly.''

Though some leading lights like the former bureaucrat-turned-politician, Shafqat Mahmood, feel that international donors may be waiting for a proper assessment to see how best they can help, the harsh reality is that the humanitarian community working in Pakistan for the over million IDPs has been facing a resource crunch; resulting in the closure of some projects.

In fact, according to the U.N Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, only about 49 per cent of the required $537 million has been pledged/received till date despite repeated appeals. This is in sharp contrast to last year when 40 per cent of the required funds had come in by April. At least in the case of IDPs in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, the donor community had the excuse that their plight was not visible as media coverage in these parts is restricted.

Now the plight and scale of the devastation have been flashed the world over. Yet, the aid to deal with the deluge is only trickling in and the U.N. agencies labour the point daily. Part of the problem is recession because of which many countries have slashed aid spending. Within Pakistan, since the floods have affected the rich and the poor alike and inundated practically all of the country, host communities who reached out during the IDP crisis are themselves homeless this time round. Add to this the month of Ramzan when prices as it is go through the roof in advance, stretching household budgets.

Besides, argues Lahore-based lawyer Asad Jamal, there is a greater distrust of Pakistan today than ever before. “When Mr. Cameron talks about the double game Pakistan has been playing, it must reverberate in world capitals. I mean if the world is thinking ‘Pakistan and the people of Pakistan are themselves not serious about making corrections, why should we be bothered'?''

Add to this the credibility issue. “The Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Authority — established after the 2005 destruction — has not been questioned for the alleged bungling amounting to billions. Why would the world come forward to offer financial help,” asks Mr. Jamal adding the ruling order is so much under attack from all quarters — the Opposition, the judiciary, the media, the U.S., the Taliban and the forces — that it remains ever pre-occupied with protecting its flanks. “It would be less inefficient if it did not have to outsource major decision-making processes to the ultimate source of power, the state within state. I mean consider the enormity of problems the government has faced since 2008. This is an ungovernable country at the moment.”

The federal government is also taking much of the stick because of Pakistan's over-centralised past. “The 18th Amendment and the 7th National Finance Commission Award are historic milestones as they brought fundamental structural changes and corrected the historical imbalance/injustice by giving much of the Centre's financial and administrative resources to the provinces but whether the States are ready to deliver is a different question. The floods are an example of the ultimate responsibility being that of the provinces, but the federal government is getting all the flak because people are not used to putting pressure on provincial governments,” said a government official.

While the political class can only lead from the front and it is the administrative machinery that should have got into the act, the floods — undoubtedly unprecedented for any kind of preparation to be equal to the task as Pakistan received an equivalent of the annual rainfall in four days — exposed the chinks in the ‘steel frame.' Primarily because the former President, Pervez Musharraf, introduced changes in the district administration system in the name of devolution and weakened the ‘steel frame' from its core, points out Mr. Mahmood.

In the place of the District Collector or the magistrate who had near-ministerial powers over all departments, including revenue and police, Gen. Musharraf brought in an elected Mayor and created the office of District Coordination Officer that eroded the existing control mechanisms and affected the structural ability to respond. “When I was in service, we used to have annual flood plans but this time the system seemed to respond after nature had struck and not in anticipation of the monsoon,” says Mr. Mahmood.

With the floods drowning the hopes of an economic revival of the terror-torn country and the charities run by militant organisations moving quickly to fill the vacuum as the administrative machinery and international aid structures sputter into action, there is a lurking fear of what the future holds for an already blighted nation.

Pakistan thinks that it can blackmail - fool the world because it is having a key to world peace. British PM Mr.Cameron did a big damage to it. Credibility, Trust-ability are missing in leaders of pakistan but may not be in Pakistan, so sadly common people have to suffer.

from:
prasbad

Posted on: Aug 18, 2010 at 22:02 IST

The imperative of solidarity in times of distress is part of common humanity. When we see an injured person in distress, we call for medical assistance without first ascertaining if the person deserves our support by having led an exemplary life. It is in this vein that the case for assistance to Pakistani flood victims seems overwhelming. As to whether the diversion of capital expenditure on canal building to military purposes has contributed to the current calamity is a question that needs to be asked, but it cannot become an excuse for withholding help until the issue is resolved.

from:
S.P.Chakravarty

Posted on: Aug 17, 2010 at 16:33 IST

Pakistan has had more than its fair share of natural disasters. In an already difficult period with war going on in neighbouring Afghanistan having direct effect on Pakistan this has been very harsh. One hopes the institutions and people will recover from the shock soon and get united to get themselves out of this trouble. They have done this before. The weakness of governance has been exposed badly. The government is suppose to deal with so many frontiers at the same time i.e. recession, war in Afghanistan and floods.

from:
haseeb akram

Posted on: Aug 17, 2010 at 06:42 IST

Pakistan is a country where there is no governance in spite of having a government. What is the use of being democratic nation if the Prime Minister does not stand at the time of such disasters. Take the learnings from China, being a communist nation, when Mr. Hu Jintao made hurry in the recently held BRIC summit (scheduled on 16th April but held on 15th) because of Earthquake in China. I don't know but I really appreciate China despite of being a communist nation, the leaders of this country have concern about their people and development.
What was Mr. Zardari trying to show in UK and France when almost all of the country was in such a disastrous situation.

from:
PRATIK AGRAWAL

Posted on: Aug 17, 2010 at 00:01 IST

I pray to god to give strength to Pakistani people to come out of this natural calamity. But surely international community should think for people of Pakistan at this point of time. I hope that Pakistani people will force the government in future to work for betterment of their people and stop sponsoring terrorist activity which they are doing to create problems in India.

from:
Mansukh

Posted on: Aug 16, 2010 at 22:28 IST

The United States has been providing aid to Pakistan for decades and the Government of Pakistan has taken aid and used it to kill American citizens and as a country all its citizens have hated America and the western World so I am not against helping but how about some gratitude.

from:
Ton Henning

Posted on: Aug 16, 2010 at 21:32 IST

Nicely written article. It is surprising that so many articles from Pakistan criticized India for not giving aid to it, and when the aid has been offered it is still under consideration. More over it is amply clear that nobody wants to help a person who when enabled is bound to strike at you. Pakistanis need some introspection.

from:
rk

Posted on: Aug 16, 2010 at 19:30 IST

This is the global calamity. But how can we help? Pakistan should erase the international trust deficit.
Anyway, I yearn to reach out to my brethren there to help out.

from:
vijay walia

Posted on: Aug 15, 2010 at 09:16 IST

The article clearly suggests the plight of Pakistan and its people, what is noteworthy is the cold shouldering from the international communities and UNO towards rehabilitation of the flooded parts, Zardari's tour to Europe and Sharif's heroics have rubbed salt in the wounds of the affected people.

from:
Rohan

Posted on: Aug 14, 2010 at 23:29 IST

Every nation would have been helpless against the natural disaster that has been going on for the last 14 days in Pakistan.

Million of people lost everything, they fight to survive and the state is not able to give sufficient help.

The floods have caused havoc and the national institutions are not working.

The Presdident of Pakistan has made a big mistake to travel to France and the United Kingdom instead of staying at home and to go to the flood areas to support the sufferers. Now he is criticized at home and abroad.

The Army of Pakistan has won back the trust of the people as the army has begun immediately with relief work and had shown again the capability to work in a pfoficient manner.

It will take much time to overcome the havoc the floods have caused and by international and national help it could work.

The people of Pakistan have the right to live in harmony and peace and its neighbours must be interested in a stable Pakistan.

from:
Kurt Waschnig

Posted on: Aug 14, 2010 at 18:16 IST

Pakistan used Aid money to buy arms and wage proxy war against India instead of repairing canals. Instead of looking at what Zardari did the day after floods, take a long hard look at where money was spent in the years before the floods.

from:
KN

Posted on: Aug 14, 2010 at 12:46 IST

Pakistan has the cheek to question the lack of aid from donor countries while playing a double game in the terror stakes. As long as Pak harbours terrorists while swallowing billions in the name of fight against terror world will care a hoot about these natural calamities.

from:
Swaminathan

Posted on: Aug 14, 2010 at 09:30 IST

Aid to Pakistan is no longer smooth among international institution because the recent records on Pakistan association with terrorist and ISI hands in attack has created unpopular move among international community. When it was Haiti almost everyone ran over there with lots of funding but now in case of Pakistan none of the countries is not fast as before. It was proved recently its association to terror groups and killing. It's time for Pakistan to understand the mindset of international community.

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